'Don’t think about it, just do it'

One of the hardest parts of getting active for most people – especially women – is finding the time to get out after a long day of work or looking after children.

Paula Donnellan knows such challenges only too well, as a mother of two children aged 10 and 12, living on a sheep and beef farm and working full-time.

But yet, nothing quite beats the feeling she gets when she hits the road for a run.

“That euphoric feeling one gets when two miles into a run, you feel alive, all the troubles of the days are left on the road and you are floating on air, immersed in nature, only you and the animals. The further you go, the better you feel,” she explains.

Lifetime of activity

Paula grew up in a busy, outdoor, sporting house on a farm in Shrule between Galway and Mayo, which resulted in her always being on the go.

“Coming from a small village in rural Ireland, cycling to the pitch was a way of hanging out with our friends. It was fun, and we hadn’t a care in the world. Sport brought us places we could never have dreamt of, we made lifelong friends, and it taught us life skills,” she recalls.

“Back in the day”, Paula played football and won all Ireland medals for school, college and county, but in the last number of years, she has won national masters medals in athletics across all disciplines including track events and longer distances representing Mayo AC.

Early riser

For Paula, the best time to fit a run into her daily routine is at 6am. She advises anyone who hasn’t the time to exercise to get up half an hour earlier in the morning and get out and get moving.

“The early mornings in the Irish countryside are paradise. In most houses, the evenings are consumed with children’s matches and endless farming chores. Exercising in the morning means you have the evenings free to enjoy those commitments. On returning home you will face the day with endless energy, you will have parked all your worries and have a buzz for the day,” she says.

Challenges in rural areas

Being from a rural area provides challenges when it comes to race days and the logistics of having to make it on time for an event, such as the recent national five-mile competition that was held in Dublin.

“We are living in Mayo in the sticks, we are so disadvantaged, I don’t think anyone realises. We got up at half four yesterday morning and travelled up [to Dublin]. It’s very hard to eat breakfast that early in the morning,” Paula admits.

She managed to win the silver medal at the event, but emphasises there is a need for better facilities for people travelling long distances to races, as well as for more central locations.

“We live in such a big country in some ways, I think the central location is key for national events. It does have an effect on the number of runners participating in an event from more rural areas,” says Paula.

The importance of getting active

Paula is passionate about exercise, movement, the outdoors and well-being because she sees the benefits it brings people on a daily basis.

“From working in education, parenting young children, being involved in local groups – anyone young or old can move and step outdoors,” she says.

“We as parents have a duty to show our young people the benefits of activity, being healthy and the importance of our community, because the children are our future,” she adds.

Starting the journey

For any of our readers who are thinking about joining an activity group, Paula gives the following advice:

“Don’t just think about it, do it – it will be the right decision. Have no fears; sometimes we think everyone will be looking at us. To be honest, no one cares because they have enough to do to get themselves there,” she says.

“We are all on a journey and it’s the treks we take that make that journey. Write down a few small achievable goals, stick them on the fridge, tell everyone, smile and just start. Yes, you will have hard days, but the tough days make the good days even better.”

For anyone looking for advice or to get in touch with Paula, you can email her on pauladonnellan@yahoo.co.uk

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